geekhack

geekhack Community => Input Devices => Topic started by: Wingklip on Sat, 01 December 2018, 16:54:34

Title: Laptop Trackpoint Polling Rate Modification
Post by: Wingklip on Sat, 01 December 2018, 16:54:34
Hello my friends,
would it be possible to overclock the laptop's trackpoint/trackpad's polling rate past 100hz?

They are extremely effective input devices that are gimped by their inaccurate polling numbers. you can see the cursor skip across the screen because of the low poll rate :(

Has anyone got a potential fix?
Title: Re: Laptop Trackpoint Polling Rate Modification
Post by: tp4tissue on Sun, 02 December 2018, 23:26:43
Not sure polling rate would help.


Increasing it would allow you to change directions slightly faster,  but the movement in any single direction is an analogue speed value.

The reason a mouse feels faster is not because of speed, rather it's the precision translation of movement, leading to ease of maneuver, which roughly feels like you've accomplished the movement faster.


The cursor controlled by joystick is not as precise or as predictable , therefore leading to a cumbersome feel, and more time taken to complete a comparable maneuver


It's mouse /keyboard  vs game controller..   you can increase the polling rate of the controller all you like,  you'll never beat the guy with the mouse.
Title: Re: Laptop Trackpoint Polling Rate Modification
Post by: ThoughtArtist on Thu, 06 December 2018, 00:43:01
Not sure polling rate would help.


Increasing it would allow you to change directions slightly faster,  but the movement in any single direction is an analogue speed value.

The reason a mouse feels faster is not because of speed, rather it's the precision translation of movement, leading to ease of maneuver, which roughly feels like you've accomplished the movement faster.


The cursor controlled by joystick is not as precise or as predictable , therefore leading to a cumbersome feel, and more time taken to complete a comparable maneuver


It's mouse /keyboard  vs game controller..   you can increase the polling rate of the controller all you like,  you'll never beat the guy with the mouse.


I'd argue a mouse is not only precise, but fast as well, so those two things combined make it as effective as it is as in input device.

The mouse will never die as an input device. Only when computers go, will the mouse go.

This is a major reason why Star Trek computers are so unrealistic; THEY DON'T USE MICE.
Title: Re: Laptop Trackpoint Polling Rate Modification
Post by: tp4tissue on Thu, 06 December 2018, 08:46:03


This is a major reason why Star Trek computers are so unrealistic; THEY DON'T USE MICE.


Mmmmm....  Star Trek is unrealistic for lots of reasons..  For example, they have cybernetic technology, or at least within stones throw of it, had they bothered..   it makes no sense to continue life as "fleshies"

As for Human UI,  If we look at control schemes of aircrafts TODAY, the bulk of the work is automated, and even though it looks like lots of buttons,  that's mostly not used..

They could easily simplify it to touch screens if touch screens were as reliable as hardware switches..


So... Asssssuming StarTrek technology could make reliable touch screens.. the bulk of starship control would be 99% automated.. and so humans just touch little pads that say GO, NO GO,  ESCAPE,  Maneuver Delta 1 C..